Lecture by Nobel laureate Schmidt expands understanding of universe
The fall Distinguished Research Lecture Series kicked off Oct. 23 with a free presentation by Brian Schmidt on the nature of the universe.
Brian Schmidt toured the anechoic chamber in the University of Arizona’s Applied Research Building during his time on campus.
Photo by Kris Hanning, U of A Office of Research and Partnerships
Brian Schmidt, a Nobel laureate and University of Arizona alumnus, spoke about his research on the expanding universe as part of the U of A Office of Research and Partnerships’ Distinguished Research Lecture Series on October 23.
An audience of nearly 200 gathered at the Grand Challenges Research Building to listen to Schmidt, a distinguished professor of astronomy at the Australian National University. Humanity has managed to piece together a comprehensive story of our universe with remarkable accuracy, he said, including its composition, size, density, shape and age. Recent measurements found some inconsistencies, though, adding to lingering mysteries.
While on campus, Schmidt toured the Applied Research Building with members of the university’s Arizona Space Institute. He also met with early career faculty from Steward Observatory and held a roundtable discussion with graduate students from the College of Science and the James C. Wyant College of Optical Sciences.
For his work on the accelerating universe, Schmidt was awarded the 2011 Nobel Prize in Physics with Adam Riess and Saul Perlmutter. Schmidt received his undergraduate degree from the University of Arizona in 1989 and his doctorate from Harvard University in 1993. He joined the staff of the Australian National University in 1995.
Tomás Díaz de la Rubia, senior vice president for research and partnerships, welcomed the audience to the first Distinguished Research Lecture Series event of the fall semester, “The State of the Universe” presented by Brian P. Schmidt.
Photo by Kris Hanning, U of A Office of Research and Partnerships
Nobel laureate Brian Schmidt explained the research on the expanding universe that led to his Nobel Prize in physics at the Distinguished Research Lecture Series on Oct. 23.
Photo by Kris Hanning, U of A Office of Research and Partnerships
At one of two Distinguished Research Lecture Series events this fall, Brian Schmidt explained how tracking the distance between two galaxies over time helped him and colleagues prove that the universe is ever-expanding.
Photo by Kris Hanning, U of A Office of Research and Partnerships
(From left) NOIRLab astronomer Tod Lauer, Nobel laureate Brian Schmidt, Roberta Diaz Brinton, director of the U of A Center for Innovation in Brain Science, and Marcia and George Rieke, both researchers at the U of A Steward Observatory, visited after the Distinguished Research Lecture Series.
Photo by Kris Hanning, U of A Office of Research and Partnerships
(From left) Walt Harris, professor in the U of A’s Lunar and Planetary Laboratory; Brian Schmidt, distinguished professor of astronomy at the Australian National University; Mark Matusko, director of the U of A Space Institute; and Tom Folkers, software engineer emeritus at the Steward Observatory, visited the Applied Research Building’s High Bay Facility, where the Magnum Telescope is being refurbished.
Photo by Kris Hanning, U of A Office of Research and Partnerships
Nobel laureate Brian Schmidt viewed the Magnum Telescope in the High Bay Facility at the U of A Applied Research Building.
Photo by Kris Hanning, U of A Office of Research and Partnerships
(From left) Brian Schmidt, distinguished professor of astronomy at the Australian National University; Mark Matusko, director of the U of A Space Institute; and Walt Harris, professor in the U of A’s Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, discussed the Mission Operations Center in the Applied Research Building.
Photo by Kris Hanning, U of A Office of Research and Partnerships
Graduate students from the College of Science and the James C. Wyant College of Optical Sciences met with Brian Schmidt (center back row) during his time on campus for the Office of Research and Partnerships’ Distinguished Research Lecture Series.
Photo by Kris Hanning, U of A Office of Research and Partnerships